Logan Reed
Alaska Airlines has joined a growing list of airlines requiring their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The company's new mandate applies to all its 22,000 employees, with some exceptions for those with medical conditions or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting vaccinated. Previously, Alaska Airlines had only encouraged and rewarded employees who chose to get vaccinated. However, the company's decision to implement a vaccine mandate is in accordance with President Biden's executive order, which requires employees of federal contractors to be fully vaccinated. Alaska Airlines falls under this mandate due to its significant work for the federal government. The deadline for employees to get vaccinated was initially set for as early as December 8, and the company offered incentives such as $200 bonuses for those who uploaded proof of vaccination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination Required | Yes |
| Reason | Work as a government contractor |
| Applicable to | All employees, including contractors and vendors |
| Exemptions | Religious beliefs, medical conditions |
| Exemptions protocols | Weekly testing, continued masking, social distancing, modified work schedules, delayed training class start dates, inability to attend in-person events, unpaid leaves of absence |
| Incentives | $200 bonus, extra pay, extra time off |
| Deadline | December 8, 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Alaska Airlines employees must be vaccinated under federal rules
Alaska Airlines has informed its 22,000 employees that they must be vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with federal rules. The Seattle-based company had previously encouraged employees to get vaccinated, offering an incentive of $200 to those who provided proof of vaccination. However, the airline now states that the federal vaccine mandate applies to Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and McGee employees, as well as certain contractors and vendors, due to their significant work for the federal government.
In a statement, Alaska Airlines confirmed that it is updating its policies to comply with the federal mandate, requiring employees of federal contractors to be fully vaccinated. The company explained that this includes all Alaska Airlines employees, who must now be vaccinated or approved for a reasonable accommodation, such as in the case of medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent vaccination. The deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated is as early as December 8, and the airline has extended its offer of $200 to newly vaccinated employees until December 1.
Alaska Airlines is not the only carrier to implement such a mandate, with JetBlue and American Airlines also requiring staff to be vaccinated under federal rules. United Airlines was the first major U.S. carrier to mandate vaccinations for all employees, and other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, have imposed surcharges or regular testing for unvaccinated employees. Alaska Airlines' decision to require COVID-19 vaccines for its employees is part of a growing trend among airlines and companies to prioritize the health and safety of their workers and customers.
While there is no hard deadline for when employees must be vaccinated, Alaska Airlines has begun laying off workers who refuse to comply with the mandate. The company has emphasized that those with exemptions may be subject to additional protocols, such as weekly testing, continued masking, and social distancing, as well as potential modifications to work schedules or locations. Alaska Airlines' mandate aims to ensure the safety of its employees and customers while adhering to federal guidelines.
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Alaska Airlines' new vaccination policy
Alaska Airlines has updated its vaccination policy, requiring all its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The new policy is in accordance with President Biden's executive order, which mandates that all employees of federal contractors be vaccinated.
Previously, Alaska Airlines had a policy that encouraged and rewarded employees who chose to get vaccinated. The company offered an incentive of $200 to employees who provided proof of vaccination. This incentive has been extended until December 1, 2021, and the deadline for employees to get vaccinated is expected to be as early as December 8, 2021.
The updated policy states that all employees will be required to be fully vaccinated or approved for a reasonable accommodation. Employees can request reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that prevent them from getting vaccinated. Those who are granted exemptions may be subject to additional protocols, such as weekly testing, continued masking, social distancing, modified work schedules, and unpaid leaves of absence.
Alaska Airlines is not the only airline to implement such a mandate, with other major U.S. airlines like United Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines also requiring their employees to be vaccinated in compliance with federal rules.
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Exceptions to the vaccination mandate
Alaska Airlines has informed its 22,000 employees that they must be vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with President Biden's executive order requiring federal contractors to ensure their employees are vaccinated. This mandate applies to Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and McGee employees, all part of the Alaska Air Group, and other major U.S. airlines.
Alaska Airlines allows employees to request "reasonable accommodation for sincerely held religious beliefs or a medical condition" that prevents them from getting vaccinated. Employees who are granted an exemption for religious or medical reasons may be subject to additional protocols such as:
- Weekly testing
- Continued masking and social distancing
- Modified work schedules or locations
- Delayed training class start dates
- Inability to attend in-person events
- Unpaid leaves of absence
These exemptions and protocols aim to balance the health and safety of employees and customers while accommodating religious and medical considerations. Alaska Airlines, like other airlines, is navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic and striving to create a safe and inclusive environment for all.
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The deadline for employees to be vaccinated
Alaska Airlines has informed its 22,000 employees that they must be vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with President Biden's executive order requiring federal contractors to ensure their employees are vaccinated. This mandate applies to Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and McGee employees, all part of the Alaska Air Group, as well as certain contractors and vendors.
The deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated was initially set for December 8, 2021. This deadline was chosen to comply with President Biden's executive order, which aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring employees of federal contractors were vaccinated. Alaska Airlines communicated this deadline to its employees through an email sent by Andrea Schneider, the company's senior vice president.
Prior to this mandate, Alaska Airlines had a policy that encouraged vaccination by offering $200 to employees who provided proof of vaccination. The deadline to receive this incentive was extended from October 15 to December 1, 2021, providing further motivation for employees to get vaccinated before the final deadline.
While there is no explicit mention of consequences for unvaccinated employees after the December 8 deadline, Alaska Airlines has stated that employees who are granted exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions may be subject to additional protocols. These protocols include weekly testing, continued masking and social distancing, modified work schedules, and possible unpaid leaves of absence.
By implementing this mandate, Alaska Airlines joined a growing list of airlines and companies requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees.
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Incentives for employees to get vaccinated
Alaska Airlines informed its 22,000 employees that they must be vaccinated against Covid-19 due to their work as government contractors. This replaced their previous policy, which paid vaccinated employees $200 and required regular testing for others.
Incentivising employees to get vaccinated is a way for employers to encourage vaccination without requiring it. While the legality of offering incentives is still unclear, the EEOC has stated that employers can offer incentives to employees to get vaccinated in most cases. However, there are limitations to this, as the EEOC prohibits incentives from being "so substantial as to be coercive".
Some examples of incentives that employers can offer include:
- Financial incentives: These can include compensating employees for their time or expenses in receiving the vaccination, such as the cost of the vaccine or missed pay if they get vaccinated during work hours. Small gifts or stipends are also generally considered permissible.
- Paid time off: Employees can be offered paid time off to get vaccinated or to recover from any potential side effects.
- Gift cards: Gift cards or vouchers can be offered as a token of appreciation for employees who get vaccinated.
- Other benefits: Employers can also offer other benefits such as additional company perks, discounts, or special access to resources.
It is important to note that employers should be cautious when offering significant financial incentives and should consult with legal professionals to ensure their approach is allowed. Additionally, employers must provide reasonable accommodations for employees who cannot get vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Alaska Airlines employees have to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Yes, all new Alaska Airlines employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Employees who are exempt due to medical or religious reasons may be subject to additional protocols such as weekly testing, continued masking, social distancing, modified work schedules or locations, delayed training class start dates, the inability to attend in-person events or unpaid leaves of absence.
The deadline for employees to be vaccinated was December 8, 2021.
